No hanging chads: Brad Hoylman won handily versus Jim Smith at last week’s Community Board 2 nominating committee election. Under the arcane voting system, the 50 board members vote for seven candidates and the top vote-getters form a slate of seven to in turn nominate a slate of candidates for chairperson and other board officers at next month’s full board meeting. A motion can always be made from the floor to suggest another candidate or slate, but the winner of the nominating committee is seen as having established some momentum. Pro-Hoylman members won six of seven spots on the nominating slate and the last slot was only taken by a pro-Smith member after a tie and coin toss. We don’t fully understand it, but to say the members are taking it seriously would be an understatement.
Senior struggle: Councilmember Christine Quinn will lead a rally outside Greenwich House on Barrow St. off of Seventh Ave. S. on Sun., May 4, from 1-2 p.m. to call for the reopening of the senior center. The center was closed during renovation of Greenwich House’s elevator and did not recently reopen as had been scheduled. The Greenwich House program was unique in several ways among city-funded senior day programs, offering a breakfast as well as non-denominational environment.
Wine, food, vacations: A “Taste of Chelsea,” a benefit for P.S. 11 in Chelsea, will offer a chance to sample foods from over 20 fine restaurants, such as Café Boulud, Jean George and, of course, Chelsea Market, plus wine tastings from every chef in Chelsea Market, followed by a lively auction moderated by Christie’s. The auction will feature items like Caribbean vacations, Broadway tickets, a child’s portrait and dinners in Manhattan. Contributions will go towards construction of a new Science Garden in the playground at P.S. 11. The event will be held Fri., May 16, from 6-9 p.m., including live auction, at Chelsea Market, Ninth or 10th Aves., between 15th and 16th Sts. Tickets are $25 in advance (Call 212-496-4520) or $30 at the door. For additional information contact: Deborah Traussi 212-268-0292 or dtraussi@nyc.rr.com.
The way we are: Historic homes with innovative redesigns will be featured in the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation’s May 4 “The Way We Live Now” House Tour. The society will open the doors of six historic homes embodying varied and dramatic re-interpretations of the classic Greenwich Village townhouse. The tour, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., is a rare opportunity to view private residences that range from a double-width traditional townhouse with dramatically modern, state-of-the-art interiors, to a sleek renovation of a circa 1910 former commercial building on the edge of the Meatpacking District. Tickets for the tour start at $75 and may be reserved by calling the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation at 212-475-9585 ext. 39. (Tickets can also be purchased the day of the tour at First Presbyterian Church, Fifth Ave., just south of 12th St.). A $175 ticket includes a post-tour cocktail reception at Phillips, de Pury & Luxembourg for an opportunity to view their Spring 2003 Auction of Contemporary Art. The gallery, a converted loft space, offers panoramic views of the Hudson River, as well as the High Line railroad and the Meatpacking District. All proceeds go to support the activities of G.V.S.H.P. For more information, call 212-475-9585 ext. 39.
Going dental: We hear another candidate is thinking about running in the Second City Council District: Dr. Manuel Velazquez, director Cabrini Health Center, on E. Fourth St., between First and Second Aves., who also has a dental practice at the Red Square apartment building on E. Houston St. If Velazquez enters the race he’d be the second dentist: Dr. Jay Golub, a Republican, is one, too. Hmm, sounds like this race is going to be fought tooth and nail. No, that does not mean a manicurist is entering the race…. But it will be a race you can really sink your teeth into…. We also hear the Village Reform Democratic Club has a candidate for this race, apparently not a dentist.
Rolling writer: Our columnist Keith Crandell tells us his recent piece on coming to love his electric wheelchair has generated the most response of any column he’s ever written for The Villager. Not only are people e-mailing and calling him for information on how to get one, but complete strangers have been stopping him on the street to complement him on his column.
